Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale threw on a back field on Wednesday instead of the Grapefruit League game versus the Toronto Blue Jays. It serves as a likely indication that Sale is lined up to start Atlanta's third outing of the regular season on March 31 on the road against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, with aces Spencer Strider and Max Fried setting up to take the ball in the first and second contests of the year respectively. The Braves acquired the 34-year-old Sale, MLB's all-time leader with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, from the Boston Red Sox back on Dec. 30 in exchange for former top infielder prospect Vaughn Grissom to bolster their starting rotation. The veteran southpaw posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 17:4 K:BB over 11 2/3 frames this spring and could be a value at his 129 NFBC ADP with a better defense behind him plus a more favorable home ballpark factor in 2024.

New York Yankees designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went off in Wednesday's 12-0 Grapefruit League rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates, smashing three home runs and piling up eight RBI. Stanton went deep for a towering two-run homer in the first inning, crushed a grand slam during the second frame, and launched a solo blast in the fourth just for good measure. And just like that, the 34-year-old slugger is now batting .314 (11-for-35) with four long balls, 10 RBI, and a 1.073 OPS this spring. Stanton's All-Star days might be behind him after a miserable 2023 saw him register a career-worst .191/.275/.420 triple-slash line across 415 plate appearances, but he'll open the 2024 season as the everyday designated hitter in the heart of the order in a loaded Yankees lineup. His playing time should be safe until Jasson Dominguez (elbow) returns later in the summer, and Stanton's 220 NFBC ADP should rise a bit following Wednesday's explosion.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is enjoying a big spring as he looks to bounce back at the plate in the 2024 season. The veteran is hitting .433 (13-for-30) with two homers, eight RBI, and a 1.241 OPS across 37 trips to the plate. He also has seven walks against five strikeouts in that time. Rizzo enjoyed a solid start to his 2023 season but a May collision with San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. on a pickoff play resulted in a concussion that bogged him down for the remainder of the season. Rizzo wound up hitting .244 with 12 home runs and a .706 OPS across 99 games for the season, the worst overall production of his career outside of his 49-game debut in the 2011 season. He figures to bounce back with some power but his 22 home runs and 67 RBI projected by ATC leave much to be desired at the first-base position.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot), who is dealing with a significant bone bruise in his right foot in camp, isn't ruling out being in the starting lineup for Opening Day on March 28 against the Houston Astros. "I've had a good spring training. I've had plenty of at-bats. I'm pretty much ready," LeMahieu said. If the 35-year-old veteran isn't able to get into another Grapefruit League game before the spring schedule ends next week, there's a pretty good chance LeMahieu won't be in the Yankees' Opening Day lineup. When healthy, he's expected to be the team's leadoff hitter and everyday third baseman in 2024. If he's not ready to go for the start of the regular season late next week, Oswaldo Cabrera figures to fill in at the hot corner in the Bronx.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish only lasted 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision in Wednesday's Opening Day contest versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in Seoul, South Korea. The veteran allowed two hits, one unearned run, three walks and struck out three on the day. Darvish probably could have gone longer, but the Padres defense did not do him any favors. Darvish had good results in the Cactus League this spring with a 2.89 ERA in three starts, but is coming off one his worst careers in the big leagues with a 4.56 ERA in 2023. Despite the ERA, his numbers were on par for the rest of his career. The 37-year-old isn't getting any younger, but he should remain a solid option for managers in the middle of their rotation.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) was held out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive day in Tuesday's 0-0 Grapefruit League tie with the Tigers. The 31-year-old has been dealing with back stiffness. However, manager Rob Thompson said, "He took ground balls today and swung the bat. He's feeling better." It does not sound like a serious injury, and the Phillies may simply be playing it safe with one of their top players. Fortunately, at this time, it seems like the organization is not worried about his health heading into Opening Day.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) will make his Cactus League debut on Friday against the Chicago Cubs and will throw three innings. Cobb was initially expected to return around midseason after he underwent surgery on his hip last October, but the 36-year-old veteran has made excellent progress this offseason and now might be able to join San Fran's starting rotation just a few weeks into the year. Cobb made his spring debut in a minor-league game last Saturday and struck out five in two scoreless innings. He's still going to open the year on the injured list, but Cobb now becomes a more attractive matchup-based streaming option in 2024. However, health issues probably aren't going to go away for a pitcher that was far too hittable in 2023.

The Boston Red Sox are now hoping that closer Kenley Jansen (back) can pitch in a Grapefruit League game on Thursday. After being scratched from spring training action on both Monday and Tuesday with lower-back tightness, Jansen won't attempt to pitch in a minor-league game on Wednesday. Jansen was dealing with lat tightness earlier in camp and didn't make his Grapefruit League debut until last Friday. Manager Alex Cora said on Monday that the 36-year-old veteran right-hander is running out of time to get ready for Opening Day on March 28, so even if Jansen pitches on Thursday, there's a chance he won't be ready for the start of the regular season. Although Jansen is the active all-time saves leader, this is another reminder that he's become a huge injury risk as a No. 2 fantasy closer. Chris Martin (groin) is also hurt in camp, so Josh Winckowski could be looking at some early season save chances in the back of Boston's bullpen.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kenley Jansen (back) will not pitch on Tuesday and is still dealing with back tightness, according to manager Alex Cora. Jansen was scratched on Monday but was originally scheduled to pitch on Tuesday with four more spring outings in mind. He has mad just one spring outing on March 15 and allowed three earned runs on two homers across just 2/3 of an inning. Cora said the veteran is running out of time to be ready for Opening Day. "He's running out of time," the manager said. "We still have time, but we're running out of time." The Red Sox open the regular season on March 28 in Seattle. Jansen posted a 3.63 ERA in the 2023 season, the second-worst mark of his 14-year career while his 27.7% K% was the worst mark of his career.

The Texas Rangers announced on Tuesday that right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the team's Opening Day game on March 28 at home versus the visiting Chicago Cubs. The injury-prone Eovaldi will kick off the year as the Rangers look to defend their World Series title from last fall. The 34-year-old veteran has made the All-Star team twice in the last three years and went 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP while walking 47 and striking out 132 hitters in 144 innings over his 25 starts in 2023 during the regular season. During the team's run to the World Series in the playoffs, he went 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 41 K's in 36 2/3 frames. Eovaldi can be a solid fantasy asset when healthy, but he's gone over 150 innings just once since the 2016 campaign.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) is considered day-to-day after rolling his right ankle in his Grapefruit League debut with the team on Sunday. The injury isn't very serious, as Votto is scheduled to take live batting practice on the field in camp on Tuesday. It remains to be seen when Votto will be allowed to play in another spring game, but the injury isn't very serious at all and shouldn't keep him from being ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. Given how late the 40-year-old signed with Toronto, he's expected to open the year in the minors with Triple-A Buffalo, but he should eventually become an experienced left-handed bat off the bench for the Blue Jays in 2024 in what could be his final season of professional baseball.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that closer Kenley Jansen (back) has just enough time to be ready for the start of the regular season on March 28, but there is no margin for any more injury setbacks. "We're running out of time," Cora said. Despite being scratched from his second Grapefruit League appearance on Monday with lower-back tightness, Jansen is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday and one more time in an exhibition game in Texas next week. The 36-year-old veteran reliever didn't make his first spring appearance until last Friday due to lat tightness, so Jansen has already dealt with two injuries this spring. While he could be ready for Opening Day, fantasy managers should be considering him a pretty shaky No. 2 closer in 2024. Chris Martin (groin) is also hurt and could open the year on the injured list, so the back end of Boston's bullpen is limping into Opening Day.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martin Perez continued his impressive spring during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-hander struck out eight batters over five innings of work during Monday's victory. It's worth noting that Perez never struck out eight hitters during a single start last season. His velocity was down during this game and he was still extremely effective. Perez has allowed one earned run in 12 innings this season. Perez probably won't be a reliable 12-team fantasy option, but could still be worth a look in deep leagues.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) has "a pretty significant bone bruise" on his right foot, according to manager Aaron Boone, and the skipper isn't sure if LeMahieu will have enough time to get ready for Opening Day on March 28 in Houston against the Astros. LeMahieu fouled a ball off his foot in a Grapefruit League game on Saturday, but X-rays came back negative. Still, the 35-year-old veteran, who is projected to be the team's regular third baseman in 2024, may not be ready to go for the start of the 2024 regular season. The season hasn't even started yet and the Yankees are dealing with injuries to Gerrit Cole (elbow), Aaron Judge (abdomen, oblique) and LeMahieu. If LeMahieu opens the year on the injured list, Oswaldo Cabrera should see a boost in playing time at the hot corner.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) should face hitters "in the next day or two" in camp. Verlander came into spring training with right-shoulder issues, but he threw another bullpen session on Sunday and is ramping up with the start of the 2024 regular season right around the corner. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner is going to start the year on the injured list and might not make his 2024 debut until late April or early May. He became the first pitcher age 40 or older to win 12 games and post an ERA below 3.25 since 2013, so Verlander can clearly still be effective despite his age. However, injuries are a big concern, and his fantasy value has obviously dropped considerably in 2024 now that he could miss the first month of the season.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) is "still pretty sore" but is moving around better on Monday, according to manager Aaron Boone. The veteran left Saturday's Grapefruit League game early after fouling a ball off his foot and underwent imaging on the issue afterward. "I definitely think it's going to cost him some days here," Boone added. Likely to serve as the club's leadoff hitter and everyday third baseman, LeMahieu took a step back at the plate last season, hitting .243 with 15 home runs and a .717 OPS across 136 games and 562 trips to the plate. LeMahieu's best fantasy production is behind him but he could be a decent source of runs if he can remain atop the Yankees lineup this season.

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (back) has been scratched from the team's Grapefruit League game on Monday versus the Minnesota Twins due to lower-back tightness. However, he could pitch as soon as Tuesday, and the Red Sox still expect that he'll be ready for Opening Day on March 28. Jansen didn't make his spring training debut until last Friday due to lat soreness that he experienced after reporting to camp a month ago, so he hasn't been able to get much work in this spring. Boston is being extra cautious with the 36-year-old veteran reliever. Jansen is MLB's active leader in saves and will be Boston's primary ninth-inning man in 2024, but the injuries are beginning to pile up, and he should be considered a shaky No. 2 fantasy closer.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) has been out of the lineup since Thursday, which has raised some concerns about his health. On Sunday, Phillies manager Rob Thompson confirmed that Harper is dealing with minor back stiffness. The lefty slugger has been out since Thursday and will remain out until at least Tuesday. It's worth noting that the organization is not concerned about this being a long term issue. Thompson says that Harper should be back in the lineup by the end of the week. That being said, fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned about Harper's health heading into Opening Day.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) was forced to exit early during Sunday's spring training contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. The veteran slugger launched a solo home run in his first at-bat with his new team. Sadly, Votto didn't last too much longer as he rolled his ankle stepping on a bat in the dugout. The team decided to take a cautious approach and pull Votto from the game. The expectation is that Votto will return to the lineup in a few days.

New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu (foot) was forced to exit early during Saturday's game. The veteran slugger fouled a ball off his right foot and underwent imaging this weekend. Luckily, the X-rays came back clean which means LeMahieu has avoided serious injury. The team will likely give LeMahieu a few days off for the pain and swelling to stop. The expectation is that LeMahieu will be fine heading into Opening Day.